Rotary engine.



No. 632,549. Patented Sept. 5, I899.-

.1. .1. .CALLIHAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed. Jan. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

m VENTOH A 7'TOHNE Y S.

we moans PEYERS co, wrrroumm WASHINGYON, n. c

No. 632,549. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

' J. J. CALLIHAN.

RdTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1899.)

(No Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

A TTOHNEYS.

: mums PETER: co.. mmaumo" WASHINGTON. 0. c1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. CALLIlIA-N, OF'NEVV QRLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 632,549, dated September5, 1899;

Application filed January 18,1899. Serial No. 702,494. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. CALLIHAN, of New Orleans, in the parish ofOrleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved RotaryEngine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in rotary engines, and comprisesthe novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is atransverse section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa horizontalsection on the .line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. t is a section on the line 4 4in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view showing in detail the means employed forholding the abutment-valves intheir normal position.

My invention relates to an improvement in rotary engines of that kindshown and de scribed in my Patent No. 618,781, dated Jan uary 31, 1899.Its general features of construction are similar to those of the engineshown and described in said application; but it is improved in details,notably in the manner of forming the chambers which receive theabutment-valves and in the manner of adjusting the two blocks formingsaid chambers to compensate for wear.

The cylinder of'the engine is formed of two disks A, which are securedto each other by means of bolts a and have suitable cavities or recessesformed in their inner or adjacent surfaces, so as to form an annularsteamchamber 0 and a chamber which receives the body of the piston-diskB. The piston-disk B is secured upon a shaft S, said shaft passingthrough openings in the plates A concen trio with the annularsteam-chamber O and turning in bearings formed in or secured to saiddisk. The piston-disk has a series of projecting piston-heads B securedto its periphery and of such a size as to closely fit the steam-chamberC. The steam-chamber C and the piston-heads B are preferably madecircular in cross-section, as shown in the drawings, although otherforms might be used, if desired.

1 have herein shownthree piston-heads attached to each piston-disk.These pistonheads are made to fit tightly in the cylinderchamber, sothat the steam will not leak past them, by having their peripheriesgrooved, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, in which one of the piston-heads isshown in section. These grooves are then provided with packing-rings band b, which fit snugly against the pistonhead and the inner wall of thecylinder-chamber. The groove which receives the ring I) terminates ateach side of the body of the piston-disk B. That portion ofthe groovewhich receives the ring 1) passes entirely around the head, as the ringb is a complete circle. The rings are held in place upon the headbymeansof the plate B which is held in place upon the head by means of a bolt Bwhich passes through the two, and it also serves to hold the spring-bars19 These spring-bars are secured by one end. Thebody thereof thenextends outward, then curves.

away from the head and inward until its inner or free end rests upon theperiphery of the piston-disk. The piston-disk is provided with a'recess,as shown at 19 which receives this end of thebar so that its upper edgeis flush with or slightly below the outer periphery of the disk at alltimes.

The two plates A,which formthe body of the cylinder, are provided withcylindrical apertures passing through the same and so located that theapertures are tangent at theirinner sides with the outer periphery ofthe piston-disk. These apertures are provided with blocks D and D, whichsnugly fit therein, and the blocks are hollowed in their inner faces, soas to form chambers which re* ceive the rotating abutment-valves F.These abutment-valves areclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which aresections taken at right angles to each other, and the valves are mountedto revolve by having alug f secured upon one side and a shaft f upon theopposite side, the lug and shaft being located in the axis of the valve.The lugf fits a recess inthe innor surface of the block D, while theshaft f passes through the block D and extends outside the engine, wherethe outer end is fiattened, as shown atf in Figs. 3 and 5. The

F in opposite edges, which grooves extend to the side surfaces of thevalves and form notches F which permit the ports G, hereinaftermentioned, to be uncovered at the proper time. The blocks D D are heldwithin the apertures in the plates A by means of caps or plates E and E,which are securedto the plates A. In these caps are placedadjustingbolts e, which are screwthreaded therein and bear against theouter surfaces of the blocks D and D, so that the blocks may beadjustedto fit snugly upon the abut- '1nentvalves F. The plates E uponone side of the engine are provided with means for securing thesteam-pipes G thereto, while the plates E upon the opposite side areprovided with a central aperture adapted to receive the shaftsf of saidvalves. Arms J, projecting from one side of the cylinder, have theirends slotted to receive the ends of springplates I, which lie one uponeach side of the flattened sections f of the shafts of theabutment-valves F, so as to normally hold said valves in the positionshown by the valve at the right in Fig. 1. When the abutmentvalve isengaged by the piston-head in its revolution, it will be turned topermit the piston-head to pass, as is indicated by the valve at theleftin Fig. 1. The spring-plates I will separate to permit this turning ofthe valve, but will close upon the flat sides of the shafts f, so as tobring the valve to rest in its ordinary position. This construction issimilar to that shown in the application previously referred to. Topermit the longitudinal sliding of the spring-plates I, necessitated bythe turning of the valve, they are provided with slots 1 in one or bothends, through which pass pins J, which prevent the plates from beingmoved'out of place and yet permit a slight longitudinal movement of theparts.

The steam enters the cylinder through ports G, located upon oppositesides of the cham-* her which receives the abutmentvalves. When theabutment-valves are in the position shown at the right in Fig. 1, saidports are open and the steam escapes through one of the ports into thecylinder, while through. the other port the exhaust escapes from thatportion of the cylinder on the opposite side of the abutment-valve. Asthe abutmentvalve is turned by the passage of the pistonhead the ports Gare closed, as shown at the left in Fig. 1. The spring-bars 19 securedto the sides of the piston-heads, form a buifer or cushion engaging theabutment-valve, so as to reduce the shock of contact.

A valve-chamber H is provided at one end of the engine,'within which isplaced a reversing-valve H, which is operated by means of a crank orlever H This valve is, however, similar in construction to the valveshown in the former application, its connection with the engine and itsoperation being exactly similar thereto. It is therefore thought to notbe necessary to herein describe it in detail. The supply is by way ofthe pipe G and the exhaust is carried away from the enbear against theouter side surfaces of the piston-disk B just within its periphery.These rings are held against the disk by spiral springs K,which are heldin suitable recesses. This maintains a tight joint, preventing escape ofsteam and allowing adjustment for wear.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinderhaving anannular steam-chamber and circu: lar valve-chambers extendingoutwardly from the periphery of the steam-chamber, revolubleabutment-valves in said valve-chambers, a revoluble piston-disk havingpiston-heads projecting into the steam chamber, and spring cam-barssecured by one end to the piston-heads and curved inward with their barsbeing adapted to engage the revoluble abutment-valves to turn them,substantially" as described. 7

2. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder having an annularsteam-chamber and cir'cular valve-chambers extending outwardly from theperiphery of the steam-chamber, revoluble abutment-valves in saidvalve-chambers, a revoluble piston-disk, and spring cam-bars secured byone end to the piston-heads and V curved inward with their other ends onthe periphery of the disk, said bars being adapted T to engage therevoluble abutment-valves toturn them, the piston-disk having recessesin its periphery receiving the free ends, of the spring-bars,substantially as described.

3. A rotary engine, comprising a cyllnder having an annularsteam-chamber, a piston disk having projecting piston-heads, abutmentsmoved byengagement with the piston heads, and spring-bars secured by oneend to the piston-heads and vcurving outward and then inward, the innerends resting upon the piston-disk, substantially as described.

4:. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder having an annularsteam-chamber, a.-pist0ndisk having projecting piston members, thecylinder having cylindrical apertures extending therethrough, tangent attheir inner sides with the periphery of the piston-disks and withtheircenters outside of the piston-heads,

blocks fitting said apertures and having their inner faces concaved toform a receivingchamber for an abutment-valve, and abutment-valvesmounted to turn in said chambers and having peripheral cavitiesreceiving 9 other ends on the periphery of the disk, said inder havingcylindrical apertures extending therethrough, tangent at their innersides with the periphery of the piston-disk, their centers being outsideof the piston-heads, blocks fitting said apertures and having theirinner faces concaved to form a receivingchamber for an abutment-valve,caps or plates covering the outer ends of said apertures and securingthe blocks in place, screws in the caps engaging the blocks to adjustthem in place, and abutment-valves mounted to turn in said chambers andhaving peripheral cavities receiving and passing the pistonheads, thecylindrical blocks having steamports which are controlled by therevolution of the abutment-valves, substantially as described.

6. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder having an annularsteam-chamber, a pistondisk having projecting piston-heads, the cylinderhaving cylindrical apertures extending therethrongh, tangent at theirinner sides with the periphery of the piston-disk, their centers beingoutside of the piston-heads, blocks fitting said apertures and havingtheir inner faces concaved to form a receivingchamber for anabutment-valve, abutmentvalves in said chambers, having a central shaftjournaled in the blocks, whereby the valve may turn,said valves havingperipheral cavities receiving and passing the pistonheads, one end ofthe valve-journals extending outside of the engine and having afiattened portion, and flat plate-springs embracing said flattenedsection to hold the valves normally in position to act as an abutment,the cylindrical blocks having steam-ports controlled by theabutment-valves, substantially as described.

JAMES J. OALLIHAN.

\Vitnesses:

OHS. A. LHANIMAN, R. E. CALLIHAN.

